CHICAGO ARBITRON RATINGS: APRIL 2011

[pjc1961]

http://www.radio-info.com/markets/chicago

Persons age 6+ overall publicly released data for the April 2011 period of Thu. 3/31/11 to Wed. 4/27/11.
Next report will be for the May 2011 period (Thu. 4/28/11 to Wed. 5/25/11) with the release date on Mon. 6/13/11.

 

[radioman148]

WLS-FM holding a nice lead over WJMK.

 

[BRNout]

It's still (very) early but I like what I see as far as WLS-FM's staying power goes. Their recent changes have been in a VERY positive direction and there's still nothing like Biondi on a Friday night. I'll be interested to see a demo breakdown, of course.

Two quick things worth mentioning:

1) WJMK is still "new" and it will take a few more months to get a good read; and,

2) I maintain that WJMK is not a direct competitor to WLS-FM - more of a flanker. K-Hits' format is more 80's and rock-based than WLS-FM. But will they peel some of the younger demos away? That's the question.

 

[radioman148]

It's still (very) early but I like what I see as far as WLS-FM's staying power goes. Their recent changes have been in a VERY positive direction and there's still nothing like Biondi on a Friday night. I'll be interested to see a demo breakdown, of course.

Two quick things worth mentioning:

1) WJMK is still "new" and it will take a few more months to get a good read; and,

2) I maintain that WJMK is not a direct competitor to WLS-FM - more of a flanker. K-Hits' format is more 80's and rock-based than WLS-FM. But will they peel some of the younger demos away? That's the question.

Dick Biondi's Friday Night show is the best thing on the radio.

 

[Dr Wayne]

Laz speaks of ratings today.
http://chicagoradioandmedia.com/new...at-chicagos-april-radio-ratings-from-arbitron

 

[Dr Wayne]

I wish WLIT would look at WLYF, WFEZ or WDUV playlists and try to understand why these stations are in the top 5 in their markets while WLIT continues to sink. How many guys at WLIT do you need to change a Lite Bulb? The bulb has been out since Mark Edwards left......

 

[radioman148]

I wish WLIT would look at WLYF, WFEZ or WDUV playlists and try to understand why these stations are in the top 5 in their markets while WLIT continues to sink. How many guys at WLIT do you need to change a Lite Bulb? The bulb has been out since Mark Edwards left......

Don't worry the Christmas music starts in less than 6 months.

 

[BRNout]

The funny part of the WLIT discussion is that - for some reason - they appealed to boys between 6 and 11 of age this time! Once their crush on that dreadful Delilah wears off next month, WLIT's ratings will fall even further!

And yes, it's still too early to draw much of a judgment on how K-Hits is doing. Very slow growth so far - but let's see how the summer goes.

As for WLS-FM, mornings have improved a lot and overall ratings look good. To me, it's awesome that this coincides with their broadening of the playlist and the addition of more local talent and AT40! Often I listen and they sound like a straight-ahead oldies station featuring uptempo 1960s and 70s titles. Right now, they sound great to me.

 

[radioman148]

The funny part of the WLIT discussion is that - for some reason - they appealed to boys between 6 and 11 of age this time! Once their crush on that dreadful Delilah wears off next month, WLIT's ratings will fall even further!

And yes, it's still too early to draw much of a judgment on how K-Hits is doing. Very slow growth so far - but let's see how the summer goes.

As for WLS-FM, mornings have improved a lot and overall ratings look good. To me, it's awesome that this coincides with their broadening of the playlist and the addition of more local talent and AT40! Often I listen and they sound like a straight-ahead oldies station featuring uptempo 1960s and 70s titles. Right now, they sound great to me.

WLS-FM is sounding very good now. If they would just replace Shannon & bring in a real morning talent they'd be even better. Oh wait, that costs money.

 

[davideduardo]

I wish WLIT would look at WLYF, WFEZ or WDUV playlists and try to understand why these stations are in the top 5 in their markets while WLIT continues to sink. How many guys at WLIT do you need to change a Lite Bulb? The bulb has been out since Mark Edwards left......

WDUV and WFEZ share one thing in common: they are around 14th in 25-54 but are excellent flankers for the cluster they are part of. Add in the fact that both are in the Sun Belt and it's hard to see the relevance to WLIT.

 

[macab4490]

Either B or Kiss should go CHR Mainstream. Pure CHR with Rhythmatic in rotation.
Example: Kiss in Pittsburgh, G105..Radio Now in Milwaukee.
Why arn't their ratings strong (Kiss and B96) compared to KDWB in Twin Cities or Kiss in Boston? Do people just not listen to CHR in Chicago? KDWB and Kiss in Boston are HIGH as ever. I am impressed. Too bad I don't listen to them!

 

[BRNout]

Either B or Kiss should go CHR Mainstream. Pure CHR with Rhythmatic in rotation.
Example: Kiss in Pittsburgh, G105..Radio Now in Milwaukee.
Why arn't their ratings strong (Kiss and B96) compared to KDWB in Twin Cities or Kiss in Boston? Do people just not listen to CHR in Chicago? KDWB and Kiss in Boston are HIGH as ever. I am impressed. Too bad I don't listen to them!

Kiss in Boston is blessed with having very little competition and has been for a long time. At times, they've leaned a little hot ACish - though i think they are now straight-ahead CHR. In a market with one HORRIBLE CHR/hip hop station (also owned by CC) and nothing else that is the least bit rhythmic.

You can't compare Boston with Chicago; it's an entirely different marketplace. Thank God for us!

 

[atlantaboy]

Either B or Kiss should go CHR Mainstream.

I think they tried mainstream "middle-of-the-road" CHR in Chicago in the early 2000s, and it completely bombed (92 Kiss FM?) - I'm not sure Chicago's ever had a (musically) mainstream CHR, cause didn't the ones in the 80s lean adult?

For some reason in Chicago and Detroit, I guess you can lean adult, or you can lean Rhythmic, but straight middle-of-the-road CHR just doesn't work...no clue why though

 

[davideduardo]

I guess that changes my mind lol - Kiss Chicago should wake up and try mainstream CHR (instead of rhythmic-leaning), and maybe they'll be able to take listeners from Mix 101.9, and finally get higher ratings

Last book, Women 18-34, B-96 #1 and Kiss #2, with less than 7% separating them. Each had weeks in the book where they won.

And, unless I am mistaken, women 18-34 is the target of a CHR.

 

[atlantaboy]

I guess that changes my mind lol - Kiss Chicago should wake up and try mainstream CHR (instead of rhythmic-leaning), and maybe they'll be able to take listeners from Mix 101.9, and finally get higher ratings

Last book, Women 18-34, B-96 #1 and Kiss #2, with less than 7% separating them. Each had weeks in the book where they won.

And, unless I am mistaken, women 18-34 is the target of a CHR.

I mean, I don't know any other station in the country that is doing well being ranked 12th in share - I'm not sure how the math would work there, unless women 18-34 in Chicago just don't listen to the radio that often

 

[davideduardo]

I mean, I don't know any other station in the country that is doing well being ranked 12th in share - I'm not sure how the math would work there, unless women 18-34 in Chicago just don't listen to the radio that often

I know plenty of cases where 12+ share did not reflect the success of a station at all.

For the many years that WFAN was the #1 biller in New York, it was regularly around 15th in 12+. But it was dominant in 25-54 men, and that's where the money is.

Advertisers who use ratings, predominantly agencies, do not look at 12+. As I have said before, the reason why Arbitron gives away 12+ numbers to the press and to websites is that the data has no commercial value.

Being at the top in a particular segment of the sales demos is a guarantee of revenue success. WKSC in 9th in billing in Chicago, out of 81 commercial stations licensed in the market. And WKSC is one of only 67 FMs in the country at or above its billing level.

 

[atlantaboy]

Being at the top in a particular segment of the sales demos is a guarantee of revenue success. WKSC in 9th in billing in Chicago

I was following you at first, but 9th in billing, for a CHR, really isn't that impressive - it's not enough to flip the station, but it's really nothing to write home about

 

[davideduardo]

Being at the top in a particular segment of the sales demos is a guarantee of revenue success. WKSC in 9th in billing in Chicago

In the ad buyer's mind, Chicago has two CHRs. They don't care if one is more or less one thing or another. They're CHRs. So there is a battle there, and that frags the format.

Just look at market billing. P'burgs CHR is 7th. Cleveland has no facility Arbitron calls CHR. SF's CHR is 9th in billing.. Dallas is 5th. Houston 7th and 16th. Atlanta 5th. Philly 7th. DC and NY second. Detroit 6th, Miami 6th, Seattly 7. Puerto Rico 1st, PHX 16th

So, depending on the market, the CHR may be #1 in billings, or it may be 9th or 10th. Or, like in San Antonio, 16th.

I was following you at first, but 9th in billing, for a CHR, really isn't that impressive - it's not enough to flip the station, but it's really nothing to write home about

Kiss was last in B 96 has more street, and there is a two way battle. Were either to be unchallenged, they would be top 5 in billings. But obviously, Clear wanted to keep B 96 from sweeping all the younnger end money off the table, and the strategy works.

9th in Chicago is excellent. And they deliver a nice sales target.

 

[atlantaboy]

Kiss was last in B 96 has more street, and there is a two way battle. Were either to be unchallenged, they would be top 5 in billings.

Ehhh...I can't think of a major-market CHR in the country that doesn't have at least one Rhythmic to compete with (or another CHR) - you can't use B96 as an excuse

 

[davideduardo]

Kiss was last in B 96 has more street, and there is a two way battle. Were either to be unchallenged, they would be top 5 in billings.

Ehhh...I can't think of a major-market CHR in the country that doesn't have at least one Rhythmic to compete with (or another CHR) - you can't use B96 as an excuse

There is no "excuse"" needed as WKSC, at 9th, is a strong biller. In fact, there are 7 stations in the $15 to $19 milllion billing range, inluding WVAZ, WGCI, WLS, WSCR, WDRV, WKSC and WDRV... all in the same general range. All are successful, all are major players. Not every music station can be a WTMX, with 50% more billing than the #2 music station, WOJO.